Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum Looking for eight ivory fronts

Hi folks, if anyone has a pile of old ivories, I am looking for eight ivory fronts. I have a pile of my own but they are all thinner than what is on this old Bechstein. I pulled a cracked one off and it measures .047" thick. Anyone have anything?

I am happy to make a donation for the effort.

Thanks,
Josh

you can use the proper thickness key-tops and just saw them to length.

Jkess....This is a repair for your tech. There are so many variables of length,
thickness ,ivory grain and color that often when I’m doing spot replacement of a few ivory heads in a client's home I have to sort through hundreds to get a good match not to mention the most effective adhesives and or clamping for a permanent repair, so ask your tech if he/she has a substantial assortment of ivory. Often ivory heads have ‘slipped’ between the keys or been placed in the bench for safe storage by a previous owner.
www.snowpianos.com

The problem with ivory fronts is that they expand and contract differently from the wood they are glued to, which is why manufacturers stopped using them so many years before they stopped using ivory for keytops. They cracked or came unglued all the time. Steinway glued them to pieces of wood in the vain hope that would stabilize them; that just caused the wood to curl up and break loose.

I have not been able to get a straight answer from the Attorney General whether it is legal or not to deal with ivory parts in my state, and at this point, I would just rather replace them with a modern material. Ivory is a pain to deal with, and I can replace the tops and fronts more easily than I can fix just a few ivory pieces, so I can use the restrictions as an excuse. I do not need to run the risk.

Elephant ivory, as well as other endangered species, trade is regulated by federal authorities in the US.
Federal law applies only to interstate and international deals and travel if your state has its own laws. Otherwise it applies to intrastate matters as well.

US FWS on ivory

You can still use and trade the fossil ivory. As long as you have proper origin paperwork. But is it worth the price and effort?
Guitar makers now use either synthetic materials, or cow bones for nuts and saddles, and they actually find it as good as ivory if not better. But obviously, while saddle and nut stiffness affect guitar sound, piano key cover affects touch, not sound.

I am lucky to have at home an original harpsichord by Kirkmann, made in London in 1761, with ivory-topped keys. After 260 years, it is fascinating to see that none have split or warped, although many had to be re-glued in the three restorations this well-documented instrument went through in its history. Of course they have lost some thickness, less so in the extreme lows which are less used. Because harpsichord keytops are typically notched, it is easy to visually establish the wear (This can be seen on the photo). Compared to a modern piano, these keys are rather slippery, but still very playable.



As the 8 year-old Mozart was in London in 1764 and we know his father visited Kirkmann, I always fantasize his little fingers touched that ivory.

talant touchings

If I'm not mistaken, you might very well become a felon in your state if you mess around too much with ivory. (That would be cool, wouldn't it?)

😁😊😉

Peter Grey Piano Doctor

Did some reading on the laws. They are beyond what you might reasonably expect given the sympathy I'm sure we all possess. That is, I would be happy living my days out realizing not another elephant was taken. I'd also think there'd be some leniency given to piano restorers buying old Ivories from another piano restorer. The laws are serious and cast a wider shadow than I'd have thought, so yes, not interested.